Junior School, Brooklyn Park

Year 3/4 Scientists

In Science, our Year 3/4s have been very industrious learning all about life cycles of plants and various animal species. Students investigated, measured and predicted the growth of plants before planting our very own seeds.  Students were able to select from a range of plants to grow and have been sketching and observing their results. In Week 1, students were very excited to learn we would be getting class pets, with a lot of buzz about what kind of animal might be coming!

Our tadpoles (now froglets), ‘Ronaldo’, ‘Aqua’, ‘Kirby’, ‘Greedy’, ‘Puffy’ and ‘Ted’, as they have been affectionately named by the students’ votes, have not only brought a lot of joy to our 3/4s, but they have loved watching the life cycle of a frog occur right in our classrooms. 

Our inquiry has also incorporated the HASS concept of ‘Change Over Time’ by researching and viewing the history of the Adelaide Zoo. 

We were fortunate enough to be able to incorporate a visit to the Adelaide Zoo as part of our inquiry, and the Year 3/4s loved learning more about various animals’ life cycles, environments, habitats and conservation. What a fantastic way to explore some of God’s exquisite creation. 

Students have selected their choice of species to research in greater depth and are currently very busy creating dioramas of habitats and preparing to share their oral presentations. We thank all our wonderful parent helpers for giving their time to come along on our excursion. 

Kirrilee Collins, Emily Sanders & Alex Lauder

Year 3/4 Teachers, Brooklyn Park

I understand a lot about plant life cycles because everyone in my class got to grow either a sunflower plant, a bean plant or a tomato plant. We grew them from when they were tiny seeds. I have enjoyed watching our froglets jumping in and out of the water, because it taught me that frogs can breathe in and out of the water. At the Zoo, I learnt that Wang Wang and Funi are currently the only two pandas in Australia and that they are an endangered species. 

Isabelle, Year 4

I enjoyed watching our tadpoles go through metamorphosis because it taught me how long it takes for tadpoles to turn into frogs. I understand the lifecycle of a plant now because I can draw it to show other people. At the Zoo, I learnt that an adult giraffe is called a cow and a baby giraffe is called a bull! I know that pandas don’t hibernate because bamboo doesn’t have enough nutrients in it to last the panda all winter long, so they eat all year around. An interesting fact that I learnt in science is that a giant panda is part of the bear family, but the red panda is part of the racoon family. 

Claire, Year 3

I really enjoyed the Komodo Dragon, it had a really cool cage. I learnt that primates have 97% of our own DNA. The best part was when we saw the giraffe with her baby. We saw her baby skipping too. I found it interesting watching the lions eating. 

Kian, Year 4

I enjoyed watching my plant grow and the progressive stages it took before it died of dehydration. I have also enjoyed watching our tadpoles grow and learning their various stages. Another thing I really liked was going to the Zoo. At the Zoo, I learnt that meerkats are seriously underrated and are very cute. 

Sam, Year 4

I really enjoyed the Education Centre because I learnt new facts about stick insects and frogs. I learnt that a female stick insect can have babies without a male. The best part was the Nocturnal House because I got to see the animals awake in the day. I learnt that blue tongue lizards are not actually venomous; they just have blue tongues to scare predators. 

Ashley, Year 4

In science, I have learnt that life cycles don’t always have to start with a seed, some species of animals can start with eggs or live birth. An interesting fact I have learnt in science is that a plant goes through germination. I have enjoyed learning about lifecycles because it has taught me how to treat plants correctly and I liked watching our froglets grow up. By watching our tadpoles grow into froglets, I have learnt that the first stage is a mass of eggs, then tadpoles, then they grow legs, then lose their tails and become froglets before becoming adult frogs. At the Zoo, I learnt that there are 3000 species of stick insects in the world. 

Coopah, Year 4

Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day - Brooklyn Park ELC - 

Tuesday 4 April

From 9:00am - 11:00am

Dear Grandparents and Special Friends, 

On behalf of our ELC – Year 6 Junior School Students, we are so excited to invite you to visit our school. After a few years of being unable to run this special day, we are thrilled to invite Grandparents and Special Friends to come and spend some time with us in our classrooms.

As a College, we recognise that some families may not have Grandparents who are able to attend, and so for these families, we wish to extend the invitation to those Special Friends who step into this important role for your family.  

RSVPs are essential! Please use the following link to register your attendance: http://events.humanitix.com/grandparents-bp 

We looking forward to hosting you for a wonderful morning of sharing and community.

Tour our Middle School!

Junior School families are invited to attend a Term 2 or Term 3 Principal's Tour of our Middle and Senior School at South Plympton. All graduating Year 6 students from Brooklyn Park and South Plympton have guaranteed entry into Year 7 in our Middle School. 

This is a fantastic opportunity to meet key leadership staff, tour classrooms and facilities, and learn more about all that your child will be able to experience in Middle and Senior School.